Independent Business Review (IBR)
Lender-commissioned review of a stressed borrower's finances, viability and options.
Image · Independent Business Review (IBR)An independent business review (IBR) is a lender-commissioned assessment of a borrower under financial stress: its financial position, cash flow, viability and the realistic options open to lenders and the company. Matchpoint prepares independent business reviews for banks, credit funds and lending syndicates, giving them an objective, evidence-based view of a stressed exposure and the restructuring, refinancing or recovery paths available.
As part of our Debt practice, Matchpoint Partners has originated and led $2+ billion of transactions across four continents, and every debt mandate is led by a partner, from first call to close.
The central mandate decision. Test whether management's plan provides a reliable basis for lender, investor or board decisions. The review scope should focus on the value and liquidity drivers that can change the financing outcome.
What capital providers or counterparties will test
Historical trading, quality of management information, forecast assumptions, order book, customer and supplier concentration, working capital, liquidity, covenant compliance and downside resilience.
How the mandate is structured
An IBR ordinarily covers the business plan, cash flow, balance sheet, working capital and key sensitivities. Scope, access, reliance and reporting protocol should be agreed with all relevant stakeholders.
Execution priorities
Start with a rapid data-quality and liquidity diagnostic, challenge assumptions directly with management and reconcile findings into a clear base, downside and action case.
Prepare before approaching the market
- Historical monthly management accounts
- Integrated forecast and thirteen-week cash flow
- Sales pipeline, order book and concentration data
- Debt, covenant and working-capital schedules
Our role on independent business review (ibr) mandates
- Independent assessment of the borrower's financial position and viability
- Short-term liquidity and 13-week cash-flow review
- Business-plan and forecast challenge with sensitivity analysis
- Options analysis: restructuring, refinancing, sale or enforcement
- Clear, evidence-based conclusions for the lender group
Research relevant to this area
Original analysis and decision frameworks from the Matchpoint team.
Independent Business Review (IBR) — frequently asked questions
An IBR is an objective, lender-commissioned review of a business under financial stress, covering its finances, cash flow, viability and the realistic options for lenders and the company. It gives a bank or credit fund an evidence-based basis for its next decision.
Usually the lenders: banks, credit funds or a lending syndicate exposed to a stressed borrower, who want an independent view before they restructure, refinance, extend or enforce. The borrower often bears the cost, but the review is independent.
The borrower's financial position and performance, short-term liquidity and cash flow, the credibility of its business plan and forecasts, and an options analysis spanning restructuring, refinancing, sale or recovery.
Yes. The value of an IBR is its independence. Matchpoint reports objectively to the lenders on the evidence, even where the conclusions are difficult for the borrower.
The IBR informs the lenders' decision and often leads directly into the next step: a restructuring, refinancing, a rescue or DIP facility, an accelerated sale, or a recovery process, each of which Matchpoint can advise on and, where relevant, finance.
Matchpoint originates senior, mezzanine, hybrid and structured debt from regional banks, international lenders and private credit funds, structured around your transaction. Tickets range from USD 5m to USD 500m+.
Private credit is non-bank lending from specialist funds, typically senior or unitranche, offering speed and flexibility. We maintain relationships with private credit funds active in the GCC and India.
Yes. We structure Sukuk and Shariah-compliant private credit, including blended structures pairing a Sukuk tranche with conventional debt.
Engagements ordinarily combine a retainer with a success fee. Terms are agreed in writing before work begins and calibrated to the mandate’s size, scope and complexity.
Most mandates reach a first term sheet within 30 days, depending on diligence readiness and structure; closing follows once terms are agreed.
A short, confidential scoping call and NDA; we structure the requirement and prepare materials, then run a competitive process across our 5,000+ investor and lender relationships, and negotiate to close — with a partner leading at every step.
Matchpoint Partners is based in the UAE and runs cross-border mandates across the UAE, KSA, India and the UK, with active deal activity in wider Europe, Singapore and the United States.
Matchpoint undertakes corporate finance, financing, M&A and fund-placement mandates from USD 5m upwards, subject to mandate fit, diligence, applicable regulation, capacity and a written engagement. The partner team has originated and led $2+ billion of transactions.
Use the enquiry form, email contact@matchpoint-partners.com, or call/WhatsApp +971 52 345 1119. Every mandate is led by a partner from the very first conversation.
Yes. Confidential information is handled under the engagement terms and any applicable non-disclosure agreement.
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